To link to the entire object, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed the entire object, paste this HTML in websiteTo link to this page, paste this link in email, IM or documentTo embed this page, paste this HTML in website

YHC MSS 0158 1
The James P. Griffin Papers
1935 - 1980
18 cubic feet
Scope and Content
The James P. Griffin Collection consists of manuscript materials, photos, scrapbooks, newspaper
clippings, books, and various other documents relating to both Mr. Griffin’s work as the District 26 Director of
the United Steelworkers of America and his activities with numerous community organizations.
James P. Griffin was born on September 12, 1911, in Struthers, Ohio. As a teenager, he began working
in the steel industry with jobs at Struthers Steel and Youngstown Sheet & Tube. Prior to the development of the
United Steelworkers of America and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, Griffin was active in organizing
workers in the Youngstown area. In 1933 he assisted in forming the Teamsters Local 377. Griffin later became a
member of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee at its inception in 1936.
In 1946, he was elected District 26 Director of the United Steelworkers of America and was re-elected
five consecutive times. While in office Griffin was active in recruiting new members and union membership
more than doubled during his years as director. Along with assisting in local negotiations, Griffin also played a
key role with several national negotiations, serving as the Union Chairman of National Negotiations with
Republic Steel and Chairman of Negotiations with U.S. Steel.
One of his great accomplishments as director related to Workmen’s Compensation. Prior to his election,
those who filed for Workmen’s Compensation had to hire their own attorney. Under Griffin the union provided
workers filing Workmen’s Compensation claims with free legal counsel.
After completing his last term in 1969 Griffin became an assistant to I. W. Abel, President of the
International Union of the United Steelworkers of America. During his retirement Griffin continued his active
involvement in numerous union, civic, and educational endeavors until his death in 1979.
Books have been separated to the library. The remaining materials have been organized into the following series
by subject and chronology:
Series 1- Youngstown Area Development. Booklets and bound reports focusing on population, education, land
use, and housing in Youngstown.
Series 2- Steel Industry. This consists of correspondences, planning projects, proposals, reports, records, steel
technology, and other miscellaneous materials relating to Mr. Griffin’s work as the District 26 Director and the
steel industry.
Series 3- Community Service. Proposals for grants, agendas, meeting minutes, programs, and other papers from
James Griffin’s work with the Hine Memorial Fund, Easter Seal Society, Youngstown Playhouse, and other
organizations.
Series 4- Scrapbooks. A variety of newspaper articles from the 1940s - 1960s about the steel industry, steel
strikes, steel companies, campaigns, politics, and other miscellaneous news.
Series 5- Newspaper clippings. Subjects in this series cover election campaigns for district 26 director and
international president of United Steelworkers. Also included are steelworker negotiation articles, booklets,
portraits of James Griffin, and certificates.
Series 6 -Photographs. A majority of the photos show James Griffin throughout his career in a variety of
settings, such as conferences, rallies, strikes, luncheons, campaigns, and receptions.
Provenance
The Ohio Historical Society acquired the Griffin collection from Agnes Griffin on June 19, 1998. Final
processing was completed in March 2000. The Ohio Historical Society owns the property rights to this

This item is a finding aid or inventory to an Ohio Historical Society collection or series. Finding aids are descriptive access tools that provide more complete information about a collection than you will find in the online catalog record. For more information on the collection and to view its contents, contact the Ohio Historical Society.

YHC MSS 0158 1
The James P. Griffin Papers
1935 - 1980
18 cubic feet
Scope and Content
The James P. Griffin Collection consists of manuscript materials, photos, scrapbooks, newspaper
clippings, books, and various other documents relating to both Mr. Griffin’s work as the District 26 Director of
the United Steelworkers of America and his activities with numerous community organizations.
James P. Griffin was born on September 12, 1911, in Struthers, Ohio. As a teenager, he began working
in the steel industry with jobs at Struthers Steel and Youngstown Sheet & Tube. Prior to the development of the
United Steelworkers of America and the Congress of Industrial Organizations, Griffin was active in organizing
workers in the Youngstown area. In 1933 he assisted in forming the Teamsters Local 377. Griffin later became a
member of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee at its inception in 1936.
In 1946, he was elected District 26 Director of the United Steelworkers of America and was re-elected
five consecutive times. While in office Griffin was active in recruiting new members and union membership
more than doubled during his years as director. Along with assisting in local negotiations, Griffin also played a
key role with several national negotiations, serving as the Union Chairman of National Negotiations with
Republic Steel and Chairman of Negotiations with U.S. Steel.
One of his great accomplishments as director related to Workmen’s Compensation. Prior to his election,
those who filed for Workmen’s Compensation had to hire their own attorney. Under Griffin the union provided
workers filing Workmen’s Compensation claims with free legal counsel.
After completing his last term in 1969 Griffin became an assistant to I. W. Abel, President of the
International Union of the United Steelworkers of America. During his retirement Griffin continued his active
involvement in numerous union, civic, and educational endeavors until his death in 1979.
Books have been separated to the library. The remaining materials have been organized into the following series
by subject and chronology:
Series 1- Youngstown Area Development. Booklets and bound reports focusing on population, education, land
use, and housing in Youngstown.
Series 2- Steel Industry. This consists of correspondences, planning projects, proposals, reports, records, steel
technology, and other miscellaneous materials relating to Mr. Griffin’s work as the District 26 Director and the
steel industry.
Series 3- Community Service. Proposals for grants, agendas, meeting minutes, programs, and other papers from
James Griffin’s work with the Hine Memorial Fund, Easter Seal Society, Youngstown Playhouse, and other
organizations.
Series 4- Scrapbooks. A variety of newspaper articles from the 1940s - 1960s about the steel industry, steel
strikes, steel companies, campaigns, politics, and other miscellaneous news.
Series 5- Newspaper clippings. Subjects in this series cover election campaigns for district 26 director and
international president of United Steelworkers. Also included are steelworker negotiation articles, booklets,
portraits of James Griffin, and certificates.
Series 6 -Photographs. A majority of the photos show James Griffin throughout his career in a variety of
settings, such as conferences, rallies, strikes, luncheons, campaigns, and receptions.
Provenance
The Ohio Historical Society acquired the Griffin collection from Agnes Griffin on June 19, 1998. Final
processing was completed in March 2000. The Ohio Historical Society owns the property rights to this